Apparatus for handling fluid materials



July 21, 1959 sfF. sTAFFoRD 2,395,548

APPARATUS vFoR HANDLING FLUID MATERIALS Filed June 6, 1956 I v, 2Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY July 2l, 1959 s. F. STAFFORD 2,895,548

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING FLUID MATERIALS Filed June s, 195s 2 sheets-sheete zsec. (995er. ZI 5*.rec. 3

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\ x INVENToR. E. (1% x BY x W l United States Patent APPARATUSFRH-ANDLINGFLUID.

Ei'tephen-y Stalford; lRoosevel-NY.

Application June 6,.19S6,.Serial.Nof 589,615.

Z ('Jlains; (Cl. -16-1``f7),"

This invention4 relates, in:..generalr to. an. apparatus. fory handlinguid materials and, more particularly, thevinven-J tion.` is concernedwith a. fluid circulating apparatusfor use in a. dishwashing-machine.Theapparatus of. the-im vention accomplishes an intermittent type Huid.handling operation as distinguished. from continuous type operationscommonly employed in. dishwashers.. Y

In one embodiment., the invention isexemplied by a 'uidcircul'atingapparatus. for useina typeof. dishwashing. machine which. is employed.in. railroad. cars and restaurants.

In many such types of dishwashing. machines .there arey severallimitingfactors bearing. on. the. manner.. in .which such machines maybe designed. A- principal. factor to be dealtwith. is aPublicHealth'.requirementlmakingil.

mandatory that a certain number of. gallons; of, wash water per minutelbe circulated.. This factortisfurther. complicated by space limitationsnecessarily present in railroad cars andi restaurants. `Freqi1ent1`y,.the washer must be built within a 2'2"' x 22"v spacevallowance. third'consideration is proper maintenance ofthe pH factor,that is, the correct alkalinity or amount of soapv present in the washwater during the washing operation.. In addition, cost of the. metalconstruction and other equipment conventionally employed isa-highlyimportant consideration.

To deal withthesevarious limitations.V it is. customary inypresentlyused equipmenttoy employ amotor-.driven pump which operates tocontinuously circulate a rela.-Y

In hospitals, motor-driven pumpsare' objectionable vfrom-- thestandpoint ofV noise aswellA as the.A need' for special housings toavoid hazard to personnel'.

It is. a general object of the present invention to devise a simplifiedapparatus for handling.fluid.`materials. and especially to provide amethod in which the use of' a motor-driven pump is eliminated. A furtherobject of" the invention is to provide 4a fluid circulatinglf apparatus-which maybe used in adishwashing'` machine' andwhich' willavoid-diiiicul'ties` now encountered indi'sh'washingr machines used inrailroad cars.,restaurants;hospitalsand` St-ill'another object is to.design a compact,`

the like. elcient apparatus for ,intermittently handlinguidmate.

rials, which apparatus may, have-applicationgenerally in.v a wide range.of..operations involving atransfer of uids.

from one point to another.

From a study of the problems noted` andhavingin mind the objectivesabove set forth, I have conceivedof" an apparatus for producing a. flowof iiuidl material i'n which the ilow of liuid may be periodically--interrupted" 2,895,548 Patented July 21.,- 1959-A in.a,-.uniqpe-.n1annerto-providefor a cyclicuidhandling. operation. Int this method-of-'cyclichandling,y a bodyr of.

uidvis. periodicallyexpelled. from afreservoir. station. and, duringa.-shortinterval immediatelyy following they emptyf ingo-.the reservoir,the reservoiris refilled..

In.. carrying out invention in connection with a.-

disliwasrhing operation, the emptyingv of fluid" from its reservoir;takesplaceand. immediately thereafter 'the exa pelledruidis returned tothereservoir.- In other-- appli` cations,l the refilling may proceedwith-` successive fluid portionsl from another source beingintroducedintotheY reservoirs In..thus.producing.a-periodicow of-uid-ltnd that-- I: may. selectiyelyI exert a-gaspressure internally of a bodyof uid. while-maintaining. the uid reservoir asa-sub stantially closedchamber.: whichv can be opened at thepointes/here. the reservoir. ofuidis emptied.

Asone. suitable means-.for carrying out the methodofexerting.. gaspressureinternally of aA body of huid-in the'-reservoir,.,lfhave.deviseda reciprocatinggas actuateduid ejectormechanism. With this fluii1ejector` mechanism, I Acombineanovel7 iluidreservoir compartment. The

ejector.. mechanism..i s.mounted in-.the compartment and-- the-lattermember is provided with outlets andan inletpassageway.

I'l'rhave. further devised. a. valve structure which is: actuated by thereciprocating ejector mechanism .to open. and closethe-.inletpassagewayin the lluid-f. reservoir compartment.. in.predetermined. timed relationship. to. displace'- mentofllid through thedischarge outlets.-

YIlliave. still. further provided` electrical circuit.. control means.fon operating the. reciprocating-ejector mechanism. onatiineschedulewhich, having reg-ard. for the volume offthe fluid reservoir,.will .provide for allow in gal-lonsu perminute adequate. tomeet PfublicHealth requirements.-

rlhese vandfother objectsandnovel` features of thein.-` ventionwillbemore fully understood and. appreciated. from the followingdescription-ofV preferredembodiments oftheinvention selected. forpurposesV of illustration., and shown in the-.accompanying draw-ings,in. which.

Fig. 1"y isafcross-sectional view of. a-.dishwashing.ma. chine sho-wingthe uid handling. apparatus of-4 the invenI tion in one positiong.,

Fig., 2' is a-schernatic-wiringgdi'agram for use in. operating thehuid-handling apparatus;

Figs. 3" and'4. are diagrammatic views illustrating.v the` timing camsoff Fig. 2' in .developed relationship;

Fig.. 5 is a plan crossfsectional view taken on theline.-

5"-5 of Fi'g'; l; and v Y Fig., 6 is-aY detail cross-sectionalV View of.a modified form of'reciprocating-.valve and ejector mechanism.

Theprincipalparts offthe invent-ion are best shown. in..

Fig.. 1` l-ndiinclude the huid-'reservoir compartment the fluid ejector.device mountedin the compartment for ex, 1:elling`uid4 therefrom andawash chamber in whicha basket of'dishesmay be received and-washed.

Invr the, structure shown in Fig. 1,v A denotes an enf closure bodypreferably. consisting of a` bottom frame section 2' anda top chamber`section 4. This topA cham.-

ber,` section 4,..in one preferredformgmay be fabricated-- fromstainless steel'andI constructed as a-substantiallyl closed` casing. ofrectangular cross-sectiomas suggested in Fig. 5'.'v This structure isintendedto berepresentativeof4 a formoff dishwashing housing Vsuch as isused in railroad cars, hospitals andlrestaurants wherev a minim-uniofspace is available.

I't will b'e understood. thatvv the upper' chamber section' 4` of" the.enclosure 'body' is intended Yto' comprise a' dish? washingstation`inwhich'may be located av dish rack. or" tray'of some Standardtyp'e. Noattempt has' beenmade' to showsuch a basket as it forms no p'a'rt ofthe' present' invention; However,` numeralsv S and 7 denote` wash armsand numerals 9 and 11 indicate rinse arms, both of these units being ofwell known construction.

In accordance with the invention, I provide in the adjacent annular part16 of the upper chamber section 4.V

Mounted on the annular part 16 and also secured by the fastenings 12 and14 is a ring-shaped valve seat member 18 inclined inwardly and havingmounted around its inner neck portion a sealing gasket 20. Arranged inclose proximity to the valve seat 18 at the underside'thereof is a valveelement 22 which may be of some desirable shape such as that shown inFig. 1.

The valve element 22 is supported in the uidreservoir compartment in aposition to be movedinto sealing relationship with the valve seat 20 andforms a part of a special fluid ejector mechanism constituting a basiccomponent of the invention.

The uid ejector mechanism includes a tubular melmber 24 which is weldedor otherwise secured to the bottom of the compartment 6, as shown inFig. 1. 'Connected into the bottom of the tubular member 24-is 'a gasconduit 26 which is, in turn, connected to a supply line 52 leading to asource of compressed air.

Slidably disposed in the tubular member 24"is a piston structure 28, 28'which includes upper vand lower spaced-apart sections as shown in Fig.l. Section 28 is arranged to lie in the path of flow of compressed airentering the tubular member 24. Located' through the piston section 28,28 is a pipe 30 open at its lower end and at its upper portioncommunicating with transversely disposed passageways 32 formed throughthe piston section 28. The valve element 22 may be detachably or solidlysecured at the upper end of the piston section 28, as illustrated inFig. 1. Y

It will be observed that when compressed air is admitted at the lowerend of the cylinder 24; the piston structure is forced upwardly for ashort distance until the valve 22 becomes rmly seated against the valveseat gasket 20. It is also pointed out that, in this extended positionof the piston structure, the piston section 28 will project beyond thetop of the cylinder 24 a distance sutnciently for the outlet ports 32 tocommunicate with the interior of the compartment 6. 'This is clearlyapparent from the dotted line position of the valve element shown inFig. 1.

It will be apparent, therefore, that when this compartment is lled withwater or other fluid, the compressed air which is discharged through theoutlet ports 32 will immediately exert an internal pressure on the wateroperating to displace the water from the compartment. To facilitate sucha displacement, I provide discharge conduits as 36 and 38 which are openat their lower ends and which extend vertically upward through themembers 16 and 18 into the wash chamber of the upper section 4 wherethey communicate with a transverse conduit 40. The member 40 feedsejected uid out through the wash arms 5 and 7. Y

It will be appreciated that, as soon as the level of the uid in thecompartment 6 has been lowered to a point near the entrances to thedischarge conduits 36 and 38, it is important to cut off flow ofcompressed air so yas to permit the pressure in the compartment 6 to bereduced to a point where the valve 22 may be opened and thus permitreturn of the expelled uid. As soon as all of the uid is expelled fromthe reservoir compartment, it is necessary, therefore, to move the valveout of sealing relationship, as well ascutting off the flow 4 of air soas to provide an open passageway through which expelled fluid may flowback into the reservoir in the quickest possible time in preparation forrepeating the cycle.

To control these operations in a correctly timed relationship, I providean air valve 50 which is adapted to open and close the supply line 52for the compressed air which operates the ejector device. This valve ispreferably actuated by a solenoid 54 which is included in the electricalcontrol circuit shown in Fig. 2. Also included in this control circuitof Fig. 2 is another solenoid 56 which opens and closes a water supplyline 58 through which water may be fed through the rinse arms 9 and 11.

Considering in detail the operation of the apparatus and its electricalcontrol circuit, it may be assumed rst that the huid reservoircompartment 6 has been tilled with water which is passed down throughthe wash chamber and through the inlet passageway P. This waterordinarily reaches some level such as that indicated at L in Fig. l.

With dishes in the wash chamber, a periodic washing cycle andconventional rinse cycle is carried out. This involves a series ofmechanical operations and a series of related circuitry functions whichare, for purposes of convenience, discussed separately. Noting rst themechanical operations, compressed air is introduced through the airsupply line 52 into the lower end of the cylinder v24 where it exerts anupwardly directed pressure on the piston assembly 28, 28 as suggested bythe, small arrows. This pressure forces the piston structure upwardsinto the position shown by the dotted lines in'Fig. 1 where the valveelement 22 tightly seats against the gasket 20, thus sealing thereservoir compartment at its uppcr end.

Air under pressure continues to flow into the cylinder and` passesthrough the'tubular member 30 and out through the ports 32 in the upperpiston section 28 and, thence,

into the uid reservoir compartment. There is thus almost instantlyexerted an internal pressure which rapidly expels the fluid in thecompartment out through the discharge conduits 36 and 38 and then out ofthe wash arms 5 and 7.

After this expelled water in the form of a spray has fallen upon thedishes in the wash chamber, it collects as a separate body of fluidwhich reaches some level L', as suggested in Fig. l. When this level isreached, any excess water drains away through an overow port O into asuitable drain pipe carrying with it grease and food particles whichrise to the surface of the fluid collecting in the wash chamber.

When the reservoir compartment 6 has been emptied of wash water, airentering the supply line 52 is cut off and the pressure drops toatmospheric pressure. The piston'assembly 28, 28', then drops back toits original position, as shown in Fig. l, and the wash water quicklytlows down around the valve.

Immediately, a new supply of air is introduced and the described cycleis repeated as many times as is required to complete a full wash cycle.After the wash cycle period, the supply line to the rinse arms, isopened and maintained in effect for a predetermined period. At thecompletion of the rinse period, the timing means cuts out and theoperation is ended.

In usual practice, the doors of the washing machine are now opened, thebasket of dishes removed and another basket of dishes placed in positionfor washing. It is pointed out that, in many localities, Public HealthDepartments require that the wash-rinse cycle be out of the control ofthe operator so that once the cycle is started the period cannot beshortened by manual control. The` wash-rinse cycle in basket typedishwashing machines comprises a wash period which may vary from 60seconds to seconds or more, during which time the wash solution isrecirculated and sprayed over the dishes. Following the wash period,clean hot rinse water at F. or higher is sprayed through the rinsenozzles. The rinse period may vary from to 30 seconds. The volume ofthis rinse water is very important as it performs several functions. Itreplaces the heat absorbed from the Wash solution by colder dishes. Therinse water also heats the dishes to a point where no toweling isrequired. The rinse water also sterilizes the dishes, replaces a portionof wash solution which overflows and floats away grease.

To perform the mechanical steps set forth above and, having in mind thelimiting factors just above listed, I have devised a special controlcircuit which includes means for intermittently actuating the valve andejector mechanism for a predetermined number of times and means forimmobilizing the ejector mechanism circuit while operating a rinsecircuit.

Referring to the wiring diagram of Fig. 2, a main power supply lineswitch 60 is normally closed. The operator first closes the normallyopen switch 62 and holds it closed until the pilot light 64 remainslighted when switch 62 is released.

Energizing the pilot light 64 indicates that the timer arrangement 66has closed a circuit through the relay coil 68 and through the normallyopen contacts of the cam controlled timer switch 70 operated by cam 72.If the operator releases the switch 62 before this normally open switchhas been closed, the pilot light will go out. As soon as the operatorcloses the switch 62, the normally open contacts of the relay 68complete the circuit to the coil of the solenoid air valve 54 which setsin operation the ejector mechanism already described. The operation ofthe ejector mechanism continues for a predetermined time controlled bythe cam dwell of a second timing cam 76.

The cam 76 and its dwell periods are shown in developed form in Fig. 4,together with a similarly developed form of the cam 72 in Fig. 3. Asshown in these figures, the lirst dwell for the cam 76 during whichwater is being sprayed may run for 10 seconds, for example. At thispoint the timer cam 76 opens the circuit to the coil of the solenoidvalve 54 for a brief period which may be, for example, 3 seconds, asindicated in Fig. 4. This permits the wash solution to flow into andrefill the compartment 6, as already described.

The timing cam 76 continues to open and close the circuit to thesolenoid air valve 54 until the total wash time cycle is completed,including, for example, a period of 88 seconds, as indicated in Fig. 4.Timing cam 76, at the end of this period, opens the circuit to thesolenoid coil 54 and holds it open during the rinse period. During thispart of the time cycle, shown as 30 seconds in Fig. 4, the circuit tothe timer 66 and also to the coil of the relay 68 is completed throughthe normally closed contacts of the switch 80. This maintains thecircuit to these two components which would otherwise be opened when cam72 closed the circuit to the coil of the water solenoid 56 through thenormally closed contacts of the timer switch 70.

At the end of the wash-rinse cycle noted as 120 seconds on the timediagram of Fig. 4, timer cam 76 opens the circuit to the coil of therelay 68. The contacts of the relay 68 return to their normally openposition and the time circuit opens. The cycle is then completed and thecontacts of the two timer switches 70 and 80 are returned to theiroriginal starting positions in readiness to repeat the cycle when thestarting swich 62 is again closed. The normally closed switch 84 may beused to stop the operation at any point in the cycle. The normally openswitch 86 may be closed when a separate rinse period is desired.

It will be understood that, while I have shown a preferred embodiment ofthe invention dealing specifically with a specialized type of washingmachine, I may, nevertheless, desire to employ the invention in varioustypes of fluid transfer operations, such as transferring successivequantities of fluid from one container to another. Similarly, I maydesire to vary the details of construction of the washing machine formsof the invention. For example, I may desire to employ a plurality ofinjector units or I may desire to modify the manner in which thecompressed air is employed to remove the fluid. In this connection, Imay desire to include in the wash chamber a tubular outlet having asource of compressed air which is delivered through an aspirator tube 92and this device may be used to exhaust hot steam and other gases fromthe wash chamber. In another form of modification, I may construct avalve element corresponding to the valve element 22 already describedand mounted on a tubular member 102 telescopically supported in acylinder 104. This structure, having outlet ports 106, may be used toperform the function of the cylinder 24 and piston structure 28, 28already described.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that I have provided anovel intermittent type fluid handling method and operation,particularly suited to use in dish- Washing machines and characterizedby simplicity and efficiency in operation with saving in space andmaterials and elimination of many diiliculties.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. In a fluid circulating apparatus an enclosure body said enclosurebody including a fluid reservoir compartment having discharge conduitsconnected thereto, said enclosure body further including a fluidreceptacle for receiving iluid ejected from the said discharge conduits,said fluid receptacle having a passageway communicating with said fluidreservoir compartment, a valve member, reciprocating means forsupporting said valve in the fluid reservoir compartment in `closeproximity to the passageway, said reciprocating means consisting of acylinder mounted in said fluid reservoir compartment, a compressed gasactuated piston assembly slidably rereceived in the cylinder and havingthe said valve secured at the upper end thereof, said piston structurebeing formed with gas outlet means communicating with the iluidreservoir compartment when the piston is extended into a position to-force the valve against the passageway, and means for intermittentlyexerting gas pressure on the said piston structure.

2. A fluid circulating apparatus including a fluid reservoir compartmenthaving a discharge conduit communicating therewith, ejector means insaid reservoir fluid compartment for exerting pressure and periodicallyejecting predetermined volumes of iluid of the same magnitude from saidcompartment through said discharge conduit, a fluid receptacleconstructed and arranged to receive and hold said predetermined volumesof ejected fluid, said fluid receptacle having a passageway connectedwith the fluid reservoir compartment and a valve mechanism responsive todrop of any pressure in the ejector means for opening the saidpassageway and releasing the said predetermined volumes of fluid duringthe time intervals corresponding to one another in each instance, saidejector means including a cylinder having a source of compressed gasconnected at the lower end thereof and said valve mechanism consistingof a valve element having a tubular extension which is telescopicallyreceived in said cylinder and said tubular extension being formed withpassageways which communicate with the reservoir when in an extendedposition and which passageways are normally sealed by the cylinder wallwhen not in an extended position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS603,580 Shaw May 3, 1898 1,358,507 Berford Nov. 9, 1920 2,551,379 LaRausMay l, 1951 2,570,021 Beach Oct. 2, 1951 2,734,520 AbreSch Feb. 14, 1956

